Anode structure for vapor-converters.



-S. W. FARN SWOR TH. ANY 'ST. 'URE FOR VAPOR'CONVERTERS. PPL ION LEI) JULY 12.19!!!- Patented May 15,1917.

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s. w. FARNSWORTH. ANODE STRUCTURE FOR VAPOR CONVERTERS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 12. I915- ZSHEETS-SHEET 2.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

ANODE STRUCTURE ronvaronrooivynnrnns.

Patented May 15, 191?.

Application filedJuly 12, 1915. Serial No. 39,362.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SIDNEY WV. Farmswonri-r, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and Stateof Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Anode Structures for Vapor-Conv-'erters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to anode structures for vapor converters, and it has for its object to, provide an anode that shall be free from leaks, that shall produce and maintain a suitable rectifying are without theliberation of occluded gases and. the temperature ofwhich may be readily adjusted.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figures 1 and 2 are front and side views, respectively, partially in section and partially in-elevatiom of an anode embodying my invention;vFig. 3 is a fragmentary view,

partially, in section and partially in elevation, of an anode embodying a modification of my invention; and Figs. 4,5 and 6 are side views, partially in section and partially in elevation, of vapor converters embodying still, further modifications of my invention.

In the operation of vapor electric apparatus, such, for example, as vapor convert-- e'r s, it is necessary that an extremely high vacuumbe maintained within the device,

and, consequently, all portions of the container wall, such, for example, as the anodes, must be substantially impervious to the passage of gases. The problem. of providing an anode of the character described is ren dered difficult by reason of the fact that, in explaining this action,

the successful operation of a'converter, the temperature of the anodes must be. accurately controlled by the circulation of a cooling medium therethrough, opportunity 1 for possible leaks being therefore provided.

The difficulties of the above-described problem are rendered still greater because of the fact that it is frequently necessary to provide anodes which shall have exceedingly irregular and unusual shapes in order to adapt them for operation with highly specialized forms of shielding means or for other reasons. Special modifications of this 1 character must generally be assembled by tioned difficulties may be surmounted, and a t ght and efi'ectiveanode of almost any des red configuration may be produced by suitably bending and shaping pieces of seamless tubing, all joints and welds preferably being maintained outside the container and nothing but a loop of the tubing being exposed to the vacuum. Tubing of the character described may be readily bent and formed into a wide, variety of shapes, and, even when so bent, it is impervious to the passage of liquids and gases and it, in itself,

provides ample circulating space for a temperature-regulating medium; y

In the, operation of vapor converters, I have found that ordinary treating-out processes in a great manymases remove the occluded gases from only the small portion of the anode most directly exposed to the effects of the treating-out arc. In an ordinary converter wherein the anodes depend from the cover of the container and termiof current therethrough, there is a tendency of the "arc to wander up on the relatively untreated portions of the anodes and to liberate occluded gases therefrom, thus causing erratic and uncertain action. I do not desire to restrict myself to any specific theory in 90 but it appears tohave a thermal origin, the heating effects of the arc, in a compar tively cool container or I when carrying an abnormal amount of current, being such as to cause it to rise on the side of the anode. The natural course to be followed in remedying this diflioulty would be .to cause the anodes to project up through the bottom of the container and terminate in an upwardly extending portion, sot-hat thermal effects at no nate in a downwardly extending portion,

time would tend to cause the arc to pass' to untreated portions of the anode. The

ing an anode of the type indicated are very great, however, and I therefore propose to provide anodes depending from the cover and terminating in transversely and upwardly extending terminalv members, roughly following the shape, of a J. By suitable difficulties in properly insulating and seal shielding means, the are may be prevented from lmpmging upon the long stem or upon the bent portion of an anode of the character described and be restricted solely to 5 the upwardly extending terminal portion thereof. I find thatthe use .of seamless steel tubing for anodes lends itself very readily to this type of consi'alction and may be bent to conform to aln st any desired anode shape or special shi ling system.

In the development of my invention, I

' have found that steel tubing is not, at all times, entirely suitable for-directly supportingv a power-converting arc and that better results may be obtained by employing some such material as copper or graphite as the arc-supporting material. By molding or otherwise mounting materials having the desired characteristics upon the steel tubing forming the essence of my invention, a composite anode is provided having many desirable characteristics. The. arc-supporting \material need have but little mechanical strength and it may, if desired, be highly -porous in nature as mechanical strength and vacuum maintenance are both provided to I a high degree by the seamless tubing members.

' Referring to the accompanying drawing for a more detailed understanding of my invent-ion, I have shown in Figs. 1 and 2, one of the simplest forms of my invention. A- piece-of tubing 7, preferably consisting of seamless steel, is formed into a pipe or loop and said loop is bent upwardly and backwardly soasto form a downwardly extending central portion 8 surmounted b a substantially annular ring 9. The tube is sealed through and insulated from the cover 40 10 of an evacuated container by means of a joint 11 of any desired or suitable form, such asis shown in detail in a copending application of David E. Carpenter, Serial No.

38,117 filed J uly 6, 1915, and assigned to the 4 WVestinghouse Electric & Manufacturing 7 Company. In operation, the power-convertving arc plays upon the lower portion 8 and the temperature thereof is maintained at a reasonable figure by means of a coolingv fluid,

0 such, for example, as water, which is caused to flow through the interior of the tube 7..

arc-supporting material. The mass 12 may be of a refractory porous nature, wholly unsuited to produce an anode having great mechanivl strength or resistance to gas leakage, but the tubing 1 provides these essential requisites and maintains the tem perature of the mass 12, within desired limits. In Fig. 4 I have shown thecontamer of a vapor converter at 13 provided with a cathode 1 and with an anode 15 projecting 7 cover, is then'bent transversely and termi-' nates in an upwardly extending portion. All portions of the tubing 7 within the containcr,'except the terminal bend, are shielded by a suitable member 17. In operation, a power-converting arc is required to follow some such path as that indicated by an arrow 18, impinging down upon the anode 15. Under all conditions, the thermal arc-shifting actions are such as to cause the arc to.

remain upon this portion of the anode structure. The terminal bend of the anode 15 may be made of such size and shape that it is readily treated out in the process of manufacture, andsubsequent suitable operation is thereby insured.

A still more positive method of causing the'power arc to assume a downward direction and to impingeupon an upwardly extending anode portion is shown in Fig. 5 wherein the general anode structure is the same asin the Fig. 4 but the cathode 14 is totake some such path as that indicated by Lthe arrow 21, with theattainment of the de sired ends. The terminal bend of the anode in Fig 5 is provided with a mass of arcsupportmgmaterial, as described in connection with Fig. 3.

' i In Fig. 6 I have shown a loop of tubing 7 having the general shape shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and, supported from the cover of a. vapor converter 13. The vertically disposed supporting stems are shielded by a suitable shell 22, and the lower surface of the per tions 8 and 9 is shielded by a suitable refractory insulating bowl 23, so that the are is required to follow some such path as that indicated by an arrow 24 and to impinge upon the upper surface of the annular ring 9. The bowl 23 may, if desired, be provided with a minute perforation 25 in the bottom thereof to permit the escape of condensed mercury.

In addition to the features which have been pointed out, attention is drawn to the fact that, in thestructures shown in Figs. 4,

5 and 6, effective means are provided for preventing mercury globules thrown off by the cathode blast from impinging upon the active portions of the anodes, with resultant short circuiting or reverse arcing.

W'hile I have shown my invention in its simplest and preferred forms, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is susceptible of various minor changes and modifications Without departing from the spirit thereof and I desire, therefore, that no limitations shall be placed thereupon exceptsuch as are imposed by the prior art or are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. An electrode for va or-elcctric apparatuscomprising a loop 0 tubing composed of impervious materia means for circulating a temperature-regulating medium therethrough, and a mass of arc-supporting ma- "the operating :arc to said gas-free portion.

4. The combination with an evacuated container, of an electrode therein comprising a member projecting downwardly through the upper portion thereof, bending transversely and terminating in an upwardly extending portion and a cooperating electrode.

-5. In a vapor converter, an anode depending from the cover and having substantially a J shape and means for maintaining an are on the terminal portion thereof from a cooperating electrode.

6. In a vapor converter, an anode comprising a loop of tubing projecting through, and depending from, the cover and bent to substantially a J shape and means for maintaining an are at the terminal portion thereof from a cooperating electrode. I

7. In a vapor converter, an anode comprising a loop of tubing projecting through and depending from, the cover and bent td substantially a J shape, a mass of arc-supporting material on the terminal portion thereof, and means for maintaining a powerconverting are upon said material from a 00- operating electrode.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 28th day of June 1915.

. smmir w. FARNSWORTH. 

